FBI axes partnership with civil rights watchdog SPLC
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FBI Director Patel speaks on August 11, 2025. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images.
FBI Director Kash Patel has cut all ties to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a storied civil rights group that tracks hate-motivated violence across the U.S.
Why it matters: The separation is the latest example of the Trump administration turning away from civil rights watchdogs by branding them as partisan and discriminatory rather than protectors of marginalized communities.
What they're saying: "The Southern Poverty Law Center long ago abandoned civil rights work and turned into a partisan smear machine," Patel wrote in a post on X.
- "Their so-called 'hate map' has been used to defame mainstream Americans and even inspired violence. That disgraceful record makes them unfit for any FBI partnership," he said.
- Patel added that his decision was in line with the bureau's new goals to not rely on "agenda-driven intelligence from outside groups."
- "Under this FBI, all ties with the SPLC have officially been terminated."
Context: The SPLC's Hate Map is a non-exhaustive compilation of hate groups, tracking ideologies that are anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ, sexist, racist or bigoted against religions.
The other side: "For decades, we have shared data and analysis with the public to protect civil rights and hold extremists accountable," a SPLC spokesperson told Axios in an email.
- "We remain committed to exposing hate and extremism as we work to equip communities with knowledge and defend the rights and safety of marginalized people."
The intrigue: The severing of ties comes two days after the start of Hate Crime Awareness Month, when the SPLC criticized the Trump administration for ending funding for hate crime prevention in a Wednesday news release.
- The FBI ended its partnership with the Anti-Defamation League the same day.
- The ADL has long worked with the FBI to combat antisemitism and extremism.
By the numbers: There were 11,679 hate crimes reported to the FBI in 2024, the second most since the bureau began collecting data in 1991, according to the FBI Hate Crime Statistics Act Report.
- Roughly 53% of those crimes were committed on the basis of race.
- Approximately 24% were on the basis of religion.
- Just over 17% were based on sexual orientation, while almost 4% were connected to gender identity.
Zoom out: The Trump administration has shifted civil rights protections away from historically marginalized groups like people of color, LGBTQ+, women and religious minorities since retaking office.
- The administration has reframed protections instituted to correct racial inequities as "anti-white" discrimination, a conclusion at odds with America's history of racism.
- Trump reversed a policy requiring federal contractors to ensure inclusion of women and people of color earlier this year.
- The Justice Department released guidelines in July prohibiting any company with diversity, equity and inclusion policies from receiving federal funding, prompting fears that companies, universities and nonprofits could lose money if they didn't comply.
Go deeper: "White With Fear" films examines the "white fear industrial complex"
Editor's note: This story has been updated with an SPLC statement.
